Tag Archives: fair

Carol Corbett: The Fair, 1950s

Each year the Fair would come to the Rec.  Very exciting.  Half a crown went a long way.  I can remember watching, not riding, the Wall of Death.  There was a man jumping through a hoop of fire into a water tank and my favourite was the flea circus – little fleas in a glass case with pink skirts on pushing prams and wheelbarrows along.  No, I hadn’t been drinking!   I thought it was wonderful – we had to pay extra to go in to watch it but I remember going in with my mother, and then I think my grandmother took me as well. Carol Corbett nee Cotton b 19

Fair 1950s

Fun Fair on the Rec. 1950s:In photo, Jean Maitland, Fay (Faith) Hopkins, photo: Janet Hopkins

 

 

 

Eileen Smith: Funfair, Carnivals 1920s, 1930s

Fair Arrival at Yarmouth, Steam driven

Fair Arrival at Yarmouth, Steam driven

The Fun Fair

Arnolds Fun Fair came to the Island for August, with 3 big traction engines, brought on the barges towed by the tug Jumsey.

The Jumsey towed the wooden barges to the Quay and the biggest traction engine, the ‘Island Chief’  was the first off, and parked in front of the Harbour master and Customs Office ( which is now the Lifeboat shop). Big wedges of wood were put under the back wheels  and a hawser was hitched to the wagons. One by one they were pulled out of the tow barges by the Island Chief. When all were out on dry land, Mr Arnold drove the traction engine and  three wagons up Quay Street, across the Square  and up the High Street.

Island chief, traction engine

Island chief, traction engine

The other engines and wagons and lorries would follow, causing all sorts of disruption in the High Street, which was the only road in and out of Yarmouth.

 When the Funfair set up in Yarmouth, it was on the Recreation Ground which was given for the children of Yarmouth. There would be gallopers, chairplanes, dodgems and swing boats; proper coconut shies and all kinds of stalls. It cost 1d in the afternoon, 3d in the evening. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921

Funfair: Carnival Week, 1930s – 1980s

Funfair on Yarmouth Rec.

Funfair on Yarmouth Rec.

 When the Funfair set up in Yarmouth, it was on the Recreation Ground which was given for the children of Yarmouth. There would be gallopers, chairplanes, dodgems and swing boats; proper coconut shies and all kinds of stalls. It cost 1d in the afternoon, 3d in the evening. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921 photo

 I used to go love to go to the fair with my Gran. I’d save up my pennies for Shove Ha’penny and all the different stalls. Effie Pitman b 1921

Ryall family, funfair behind

Ryall family watching Carnival, funfair behind, with dodgems tent : photo Di Broomfield